The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi guys,

I've been getting into Japanese guitars for the last year or so. They are great!
But it is a pain to know who build what.
I have 2 HB-35 from the 80's. Great guitars, I'll post photos tomorrow.
The owners mentioned Matsumoku as the manufacturer.
Who else built these in the 80's?

Thanks,

Jose.

Here's one of them...
This one has PRS Dragon II pickups.
Also it has a volute in the headstock.

Here's the other.

Love your guitars. I have no direct experience with Washburn but Mats did make them for a period of time. If you check our forums and information you'll mostly find solid body electrics like the Wing series for example. I had no idea they had a line of such beautiful F-hole guitars too!

You might find more detailed info over at the Washburn Forums. There seems to be a nice following for these guitars, and I can see why! http://forums.washburn.com/

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The hardware is the same as on my Epiphone Sheraton from the late 80s early 90s.

Hi Barry and Wutz,

Thanks for the information.

Barry, I'll check out the Washburn website. I am in love with these guitars, lol.

Wutz, does your Epi have the country of origin?


Cheers!

J.

My Sheraton II is made in Korea.

Actually there's a photo of that model on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphone_Sheraton

They do not mention any year of production for the Sheraton II, but mine is definitely made before 1997, as I bought the guitar used around 1995/96.

Btw. if someone knows where I could get a replacement bridge for the Sheraton II... mine has developed a couple of smaller issues.

That Sheraton is gorgeous Wutz! (That's not an adjective I use too often when referring to an Epiphone)

I'm assuming the bridge is metric. Have you already checked the usual suspects, Gotoh, etc?

_________________
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

The Sheraton II sounds quite acoustic for a semi (what I like), but the neck is quite skinny (what I don't like too much).

I would recommend it for anyone who needs a semi and uses something like a Ibanez RG as his main guitar. If you prefer chunky necks or if you are looking for a guitar with good sustain, the Sheraton II is not for you.

Anyway, it's one of two Korean made guitars that I still own (the other is a Duesenberg).

The bridge is metric, I was just looking for an exact replacement. The screw posts for the bridge are rather thick (not great for the sustain) so I couldn't find a Japan made bridge that fits so far.

If the serial numbers are embossed on the back of the headstock I believe that is one clue that they might be Matsumoku. Photo?